Class of 2003
February 2006

Hello! I bet it seems like forever since you’ve received a class letter―it’s true! The January class letter has turned into a Valentine’s Day letter wishing you all a happy upcoming springtime.

This letter has LOTS of stuff about our classmates (including about 500 weddings), so I won't have to ramble too much. Not much is going on with me―last week I attended Britta Johnson’s ’04 wedding to Jesse Bergland; I am happy to say many Gusties of all ages were in attendance (including classmates Elizabeth Danks, Kelli Swanson, Becca Smith, Sara Kilby Wright, Kristen Peterson and Paul Wojahn)!!

I left the State Senate last summer after two years and am now at the Republican Party of Minnesota in the political shop…I’m guessing not many of you want to hear or have anything to do with the Republican Party, so I’ll move on…

Many of the Gusties that worked up at the Capitol have also left: Jason Flohrs is now a lobbyist for the Twin West Chamber of Commerce, Dana Langer Kohlbeck lives in Wisconsin and works for the American Heart Association (but took a break to go to the Boundary Waters with me this summer), and Meghan O’Neil Lerch is in Arlington, Virginia.

Before I get to the latest news about our classmates, here is the Alumni Office’s report from the closet in the basement of the Edgar M. Carlson Administration building.):

Campus News

Gustavus Checks

Show your Gustavus pride every time your write a check. You can now order checks with Old Main, Three Crowns, or the Gustavus football helmet at: www.mycollegechecks.com.

Fine Arts Events

Bat Boy, The Musical, written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and directed by Gustavus’ Amy Seham, opened in Anderson Theatre February 17. The American Horn Quartet, recognized as the premier horn quartet in the world, performs on campus on February 26. And acclaimed pianist, Teresa Walters, performs on campus on March 3.

Gusties Helping Hurricane Victims

A group of 23 students spent three weeks during January in Mississippi aiding in the clean-up and rebuilding efforts of a town hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. The group was student-led and sponsored by Men’s Christian Fellowship at Gustavus and coordinated through Lutheran Disaster Response. While there the students provided many services, including clearing houses to the bare structure, rebuilding homes, working in kitchens, distributing supplies, and working in pastoral care, child care, and medical clinics. The group was housed and fed in a “tent city” on the grounds of Christus Victor Lutheran Church. This was one of the several vocation month experiences from which Gustavus students had the opportunity to choose.

Athletics

Nordic Ski Team senior Erich Ziegler had a first-place finish among collegiate skiers in the15K freestyle at the NorAm SuperTour stop at Telemark Resort in Cable, Wisconsin. Ziegler’s win was the first by a Gustavus skier in an NCAA/CCSA qualifier. Men’s hockey continues to win, with a 7-1 record in the MIAC. Men's swimming is 7-0 on the season and recently set two Lund Center pool record times. Brad Hanson ’08 was victorious in the 1000 freestyle in a pool-record time of 9:51.46, and Matt Stewart ’09 posted a pool-record time of 1:44.49 to win the 200-freestyle.

Gustavus Music Showcase Tickets On Sale

Order your tickets now for the Gustavus Music Showcase at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Sunday, March 12. The Gustavus Choir, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, and Gustavus Wind Orchestra will perform. This is a unique opportunity to hear three premier ensembles from Gustavus in one concert. This showcase also allows prospective students, parents, and alumni from the area to meet and connect. Tickets are $20 for general admission, and $10 for students 18 and under. Tickets are on sale through the Orchestra Hall Box Office — in person, via phone, or online.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Gustavus Music Showcase at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis - March 12

Gustavus Library Associates’ “Breakfast with the Easter Bunny” at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis — March 25

MAYDAY! Peace Conference on AIDS — April 19

Gustavus Association of Congregations Meeting — April 22

Gusties In Volunteer Endeavors (G.I.V.E.) Day of Community Service in Minneapolis — April 29

Class News

Now for the fun news about classmates. If you're not listed and/or have updates on what you've been doing lately, please email each of the class agents and the Alumni Office by emailing: 2003classofficers@gustavus.edu. Or if you wish to contact us individually please see addresses at the end of this letter. It's great to keep connections with Gustavus and each other!

Arranged by topic, beginning with the many nuptials!

NEW (and a few late posting) MARRIAGES

Angela Balm and Jeremy Ahlgren ’02 – June 2004

Lindsey Price and Justin Hanson - August 2004

Heidi Sands and Mik Gusenius - August -2004

Jennifer Snyder and Benjamin Martinez - May 2005

Matt Boeke and Amy Olson - May 2005

Sara Kilby and Patrick Wright ’05 - May 2005

Tom Scott and Amy Nida ’02 - May 2005

Katherine Pavelek and Bill Kunze - May, 2005

Bethany Nass and David Olsen - June 2005

Jade Bakke, 2003 Class Agent Superstar, and Ben Rowland - July 2005

Nicole Busch and Brad Menden - July 2005

Katie Nolan and Andrew Nelson ’04- July 2005

Meghan Severson and Joe Johnson - July 2005

Brian Collins and Deborah Kuhn - August 2005

Annie Potts and Tanner Grimmius ’04 - August 2005 at Christ Chapel

Emileana McClish and Chris Graupmann - July 2005

Thomas Schmit and Monica Cook ’02 - June 2005

Joe Malkovich and Sarah Prichard - July 2005

Megan Trapp and Sam Henschen - November 2005

Lisa Hanson and Dave Thomas- October 2005

Sarah Hovland and Tory Spanier – July 2005

Jamie Timmers and Brian Campbell - July 2005 at Christ Chapel; Jamie is a 1st grade teacher at Beacon Academy in Plymouth and Brian is a mortgage broker for ACE Mortgage in Eden Prairie.

Nikki Martinson and Matt Francek - June 2005; Matt is an associate systems engineer at Target Corporation and Nikki is an English teacher at Eagan High School.

Jamie Lind and Clint MacFarlane- June 2005; Jamie works for her family business, Castle Haven Cabins, in Two Harbors.

Sigrid Gustafson and Olle Pettersson - July 2005 in Lindesberg, Sweden; they live in Brussels, Belgium where Olle is pursuing a law degree and Sigrid works for The Bank of New York, Brussels.

Emily Dahlquist and Wade Laughlin ’02 - August 2005. Emily is a math teacher at Shakopee Middle School and Wade is an English and journalism teacher at Shakopee High School.

Kasey Stecker and Chad Paulus - September 2005; Chad is an RN at Gillette Children’s Hospital and Kasey works as an RN for Methodist Hospital.

Meghan O’Neil and Brandon Lerch - January 2006; they live in Arlington, Virginia.

FUTURE GUSTIES!!

Kara Haroldson Pryde and her husband, Dan, welcomed son, Boston Robert Pryde, on July 2, 2005. Macy is his proud big sister.

NEW ENGAGEMENTS!

Becca Boesen became engaged in December to Tom Anderson, the awesome guy she went to high school with...they are getting married in April 2007.

Kristen Peterson will marry Nic Juhlin on August 5, 2006. Kristen works in the Microbiology Department at Boston Scientific Corporation in Maple Grove.

Kelli Swanson will marry Doug Matzek on May 6, 2006. Doug proposed while the couple was trout fishing on a gorgeous spring day!

THOSE WHO ARE CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION

Mary Rosener Swiggum moved to Seattle, Washington with her husband, Mike Swiggum, and is currently in a graduate degree program for marriage and family therapy at Seattle Pacific.

Megan Wahlund is doing post-graduate work through Argosy University as a veterinary technician at the Flying Cloud Veterinary Clinic in Eden Prairie.

Christina Diller is in medical school at the University of Minnesota - Duluth.

Christopher Vaubel is studying dentistry at the University of Minnesota.

Kirsten Olson is at the School of Chiropractic at Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Alison Doppelhammer is in law school at the University of Colorado - Boulder.

Jim Foote is studying geology at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Amanda Peterson is studying geography at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Eric Parrish is in his second year of graduate school pursuing a master’s in vocal performance at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. In his spare time he works for Eddie Bauer.

Phillip Stewart is attending Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA, in a master’s program for physician assistant in cardiothoracic surgery.

Lindsey Price Hanson is in graduate school at the University of Minnesota for social work.

Nadine Lysiak is working on a Ph.D. at Boston University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, studying marine biology and oceanography. She’s missing all her friends from Gustavus!

Diana Hamilton is at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and will graduate in May.

Josh Becker is currently in his second year of medical school at Duluth and is moving to the Twin Cities this summer to start medical rotations. (He’s still dating Anne Beschnett who’s getting her master’s in library science at St. Kate’s and is working at the Biomedical Library at the U of M).

Maria VonArx is at Concordia University near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studying student personnel administration.

Whitney Mathers lives in Overland Park, KS and is at MidAmerica Nazarene University studying non-profit administration.

COOL JOBS (WELL, COOLER JOBS THAN MINE)

Danielle Dryke moved to Africa to be a volunteer in the Peace Corps. She’ll be in Mali.

Abby Roessler graduated with a master’s of health education from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse in May of 2005 and she is now the HEAD athletic trainer at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.

Greg Nix is working for child protective services in Flagstaff, AZ and organizing the Southwest Shoot Out (a regional semi-final poetry slam in July amongst the teams from California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas) and is actively engaged with the NORAZ Poetry Slam scene in Flagstaff and Sedona. He reports he is happily single, tinkers on his motorcycle, and continues to write in his off time.

Dan Lindstrom lives in Oakdale and is a product manager for Marshall Fields.

Lauren Swanstrom graduated from Wheaton in December with her master’s in intercultural studies and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and is now teaching.

Kyle Tollefson is a social studies teacher at Appleton North High School.

Carson English is a software developer at eLoyalty Company.

Mary Panzer Gallus is an 8th grade science teacher at Central Middle School in Eden Prairie. She is also pursuing her master’s of education through St. Mary’s University in Winona and will graduate this May.

Anna Dove Toth lives in Montgomery, MN and works at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and is involved in graduate school at the University of Minnesota.

Jerry Washington lives Pennsylvania and is a personal trainer at Personal Evolution. He is the owner of Platoon Fitness Outdoor Training.

Amy Tillges lives in North St. Paul and is a mock-up coordinator for Gartner Studios Inc.

Molly Dedolph Moseley is a marketing and media manager for Job Dig.

Jody Anderson is an English teacher for the International Language Institute and is studying at American University for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Long title.

Anndi Daleske is the set designer/technical director for the Mount Vernon Players (right next to the Washington D.C. Convention Center!).

Emily Steffel Bari is in Plymouth and recently began her own business, “ejb communications”. She provides corporate communication project management services for law firms, health care providers, and other professional service companies. I worked with this girl on the Gustavian Weekly and she’s one of the brightest, funniest people I know. E-mail her at: EmilyJBari@yahoo.com to hire her soon―(Hope she’s OK with me putting her e-mail in here…)

Elise Getter lives in Charlotte, NC and is a Stott Pilates certified instructor for ABsolute Pilates.

Kim Lutz Boeder lives in St. Paul and is a project analyst at Securian Financial.

Christina Jeannette is in Illinois working as a children’s counselor at a domestic violence shelter, and in graduate school at the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration.

Eric Hartwell is getting married in March of 2006 and is employed at MedLearn doing sales and marketing.

Jill Severtson is an administration assistant at CTSi in Boulder, CO.

Michael Fritz, a high school classmate of mine at Woodbury High School, is now living in Inver Grove Heights and working at Marshall Field’s.

Jonathan Bergstrom is in the Peace Corps

Kelly Hedtke is the new marketing manager for Minnetonka-based Normark Corporation, member of the Rapala VMC Group, the world’s leading fishing tackle manufacturer.

Nikki Lavin is a registered nurse for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Craig Horak lives in Grand Marais and is the owner and mechanic of The Tire and Auto Lodge. Anybody who wants to party on the North shore should give him a call: 218.387.9194. (He OK’ed it to put his number in here…seriously.)

Sarah Grimsby McQuade lives in Inver Grove Heights and works as a national sales production coordinator for Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE DID SOMETHING REALLY REALLY COOL

Ben Marti performed for the Arts Center of St. Peter at their annual meeting on keyboards playing classic and jazz numbers.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly have named Tom Scott of Edina Realty a “Super Real Estate Agent” and named him one of the top agents in his field.

Elizabeth Danks went on a free week-long vacation to Mazatlan, Mexico, that her roommate (Jill Peterson ’99) won from a local radio station, KS 95. Seriously, who wins those things?! They came home very relaxed and very tan!

Want more news? Go to gustavus.edu and check out the alumni page. Also, remember to e-mail one of your class agents if you have any news to share or need to update your contact information. Or, you could stop by the lower level of the Administration Building to say hi to Lindsey. She probably gets lonely down there.